Carton with attached cover



G. L. MEYERS Nov. 5, 1968 CARTON WITH ATTACHED COVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1966 IN VEN TOR. 5026: 1 5,90% M67595 A r m R/VE Y Nov 5, 1968 G. MEYERS 3,409,205

CARTbN WITH ATTACHED COVER Filed Sept. 21, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6 0 965 1:790) MfV-AS Nov. 5, 1968 G. MEYERS 3,409,205

CARTON WITH ATTACHED COVER Filed Sept. 21, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 G. MEYERS CARTON WITH ATTACHED COVER 5 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Sept. 21, 1966 A m wwm 5 y Z Nov. 5, 1968 G. MEYERS 3,409,205

CARTON WITH ATTACHED COVER Filed Sept. 21. 1966 5 Sheets$heet 5 INVENTOR.

A 7'70RNE'Y a my: awa mf ms United States Patent 3,409,205 CARTON WITH ATTACHED COVER George Leroy Meyers, Menasha, Wis., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 581,107 12 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE A blank of sheet material preferably paperboardfor forming a carton having a receptacle portion and a cover portion. The carton'(when'form'ed from the blank) has a cover with a depending skirt portion which telescopes over the upper portion of the receptacle walls. Each end of the carton has an end closure comprising end closure flaps connected to the front, bottom and rear receptacle wallsarid to the cover top panel. The end closure flaps are arranged so that adhesive zones in the end closure will lie in common planes.

The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly, to a new carton construction.

The carton according to the present invention is made from a flat blank'of sheet material preferably paperboard and includes a receptable and an attached cover. The receptacle or box portion has a bottom panel, front and rear walls, and end flaps which form the end or side walls of the receptacle; The cover is hingedly connected to the receptacle and includes a depending skirt portion which telescopes over th receptacle walls. Cartons of the above description are used for various products like cake, frozen foods, or ice cream. The preferred embodimerit of the present invention improves this type carton and particularly 'the cover and end closure constructions.

According to the present invention the end closure of the carton is constructed to receive an adhesive applied in "a straight line to the end closure and which straight line of adhesive aids in the formation of both the cover and the end closure of the carton. Straight line applica tion of adhesive or pre-applied hot melt is'ea'sier and faster than pattern'applications of adhesives or'hot melt.

An object of the present invention is to provide-a carton blank which may be :folded fiat for application 0 adhesive on a straight line gluing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an end closur'e construction which may be sealed with the application and activation of a straight line pattern of adhesive.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an end closure construction which gives an improved 'seal.

.. A further object of the present invention is to provide a new end closure particularly suitable for cartons having tamperproosf features.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon employment ofthe invention in practice. I A preferred embodiment has been. chosen to illustrate the principles of the present invention and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Y

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton blank according to the present invention; 7 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ca-rton blank of FIG. 1 which has been folded into the form of a flat open ended, side seamed tube and which has applied thereto straight line strips of adhesive for sealing the end closure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view ofthe blank of FIG. 2

ice

in set up condition for end filling and particularly illustrating the construction of the end closure for the carton;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the end closure of the carton shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the components of the end closure in a sealed position;

' FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the carton of FIG. 4 which has been opened;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a modified carton embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating the end closure components of the carton of FIG. 7 prior to being closed and sealed;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view, partially broken away of the carton of FIG. 8 with the end closed and sealed;

FIG. 10 is a section view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a carton of FIGS. 8 through 10 which has been opened;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a modified carton embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a section view along line 1313 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating in a closed position the component parts of the end closure of the carton of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a section view taken along line 1515 of FIG. 12; and 7 FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the carton of FIGS. 12 through 15 which has been opened.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly, to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the pres nt invention comprises a carton blank 1 having a receptacle portion 2 and a cover portion 3.

. Thereceptacle 2 includes a bottom panel 4 connected respectively by scored lines 5 and 6 to a rear wall 7 and a front wall 8. The end walls or closures 9 for the receptacle are formed by closure flaps 10, 11, 12 hingedly connected by scored lines (13-16) respectively to the front and rear walls, and bottom panel of the receptacle. Each end wall 9 is formed by joining the front wall flap 10, the rear Wall flap 11 and the bottom panel flap 12.

Each front wall flap 10 is connected to the front wall 8 by a pair of scored lines. 13 and 14 which are offset with respect to each other. Preferably, the scored lines 13 and 14 are offset a distance equal to one thickness of carton stock. Each front wall flap also includes a slit 17 which allows each front wall flap 10 to pivot in two planes, i.e., an upper portion 18 of the flap 10 pivots :about one offset scored line 14, and a lower portion 19 about the other offset scored line 13. The slit 1'7 facilitates this double pivot action which provides improved sealing action of the end walls 9 as more fully described below.

The cover portion 3 of the carton blank 1 joins the receptacle 2 by a scored line 20.

The cover includes a top panel 21, end cover panels 22, :and a front cover panel 23 all hingedly connected by scored lines 22a and 23a. Each front cover panel 23 includes a pair of cover corner flaps 24 joined by. scored lines 24a. The front cover panel 23 and the end cover panels 22 include parallel lines of weakness 25 which define a zipper 26 for opening the carton. A pair of V notches 27 divides each corner flap 24 to form a zipper tab 28 by which the zipper segments 26 raresecured together.-

, Additional lines of Weakness 29 permit pivoting of the cover back to the rear wall score line.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front cover panel 23 joins the front wall 8 by means of a strip of adhesive 29 applied to a glue flap portion 30 of the front cover panel 23 to form a side seam 31.

One of the important features of the present invention is a strip 32 of hot melt or adhesive which is applied to each end closure 9 of the carton. The strip of hot melt may be applied by a straight line gluer machine. Each strip 32 of glue extends across each bottom panel flap 12, front wall flap 10 and corner flap 24. By means of these strips of adhesive 32 the cover 3 is formed, the end closures 9 are sealed, and the three sided opening zipper 26 is formed.

The following description of the formation of the carton gives a better understanding of the relationship of the adhesive strip to the end closure and cover constructions. Since each end closure is identical only one need be described.

As shown in FIG. 3 the side seamed blank is squared into the form of a tube for receiving cake or crackers or other product to be packaged. When the carton blank 1 is positioned as in FIG. 3, the front cover panel 23 is susceptible to bending inwardly along the upper line of weakness 25. The front cover panel resists this bending because carton stock indicated at 33 separates the line of weakness from the apex 34 of the V notches 27.

To form each end closure 9 of the carton blank 1 the flaps 10-12 and the panel 22 are pivoted about their scored lines and are adhered together.

The rear wall flap 11 and the front wall flap 10 pivot first. The front wall flap 10 pivots about two scored lines 13 and 14 so that the adhesive strip 32 lies in a common plane for better adhesion to the corresponding surface of the end cover panel 22. In motion, the lower portion 19 of the front wall fiap 10 pivots in a first plane about the lower scored line 13. The upper portion 18 of the front wall flap pivots together with the corner fiap 24 into the closed position by reason of their adhesive connection at the glue flap 30. During this pivoting action, the upper part 18 of the flap pivots on the offset score 14. The slip 17 accommodates the displacement of the upper 18 and lower 19 portions of the front wall flap 10. During the same pivoting action, the corner flap 24 pivots about its scored line 24a (which is aligned with the lower scored line 13) so that the adhesive strip 32 occurs in a common plane the better to seal the cover end panel 22. to the end closure 9 (see FIG. 5). The offset scored lines are spaced by one carton thickness to accommodate the corner fiap in the common plane.

Next the bottom panel flap 12 and then end cover panel 22 pivot into place for securement to the adhesive strip and formation of the end closure 9.

After the end closure 9 is formed, the cover 3 is secured to the receptacle 2 by the glue fiap and by the adhesive strip 32. The zipper segments 26 are secured to gether by the adhesive strip 32 on the glue tab 28. The cover skirt panels 34 and 35 are joined by means of the adhesive strip on the cover skirt tab 36. This relationship is apparent in FIG. 6. When the zipper 26 is removed the cover 3 may be lifted because there is no adhesive joint between the cover 3 and the receptacle 2.

It will be observed therefore that applicant has a novel end closure construction by which a straight line of adhesive forms the end closure, forms the cover, and forms an opening zipper. When the zipper is removed the cover is free to open.

FIGS. 7 through 11 illustrate a modified form of the present invention. The carton blank shown in FIG. 7 includes a receptacle portion 41 and a cover portion 42. The receptacle 41 includes the usual bottom panel 43 and front 44 and rear 45 walls connected by scored lines 46 and 47. Scored lines 48-50 connect the end closure flaps 51-53 (which form end closure 54) respectively to the front wall 44, the bottom panel 43 and the rear wall 45. The carton blank 40 is symmetrical about a median line A-A therefore only one end of the carton blank need be described.

The cover portion 42 of the carton blank 40 includes a top panel 55 connected to the receptacle by scored line 55a and depending cover panels 56 and 57 connected by scored lines 56a and 57a. The depending cover panels include a pair of end cover panels 56 and a front cover panel 57. The depending cover panels 56 and 57 are divided along their length by spaced lines of weakness 58 to form an opening zipper 59 around three sides of the carton. Each cover corner fiap 60 of the front cover panel 57 is notched 61 to isolate a glue tab 62 which secures the zipper portions 59 together.

A small amount of carton stock indicated at 63 in the front cover panel separates the upper line of weakness 58 from the apex 64 of the V notch 61 to prevent the front cover panel 57 from bending inwardly when the carton is in tubular form (FIG. 8).

It will be observed (FIG. 7) that the front cover panel 57 and the bottom closure flap 52 have mitered edges 65 and 66. These mitered edges prevent overlap between the corner flap 60 and the bottom closure flap 52. Without overlap, each of these flaps lies in the same plane (see FIG. 10) and together present a strip of adhesive 67 to the end cover panel 56 for an improved seal of the end closure 54.

FIG. 8 illustrates the modified carton 40 after the side seam'68 has been formed. The side seam 68 may be formed by adhering the front cover panel 57 to the front wall 44 by means of adhesive strip 69 on glue flap 70. It will be noted that the zipper 59 is above the side seam glue strip 69. When the carton has been side seamed, the carton blank may be folded about opposed scored lines 47 and 57a for the application of a strip of adhesive or hot melt 67 as described above in connection with FIG. 2

To form the end closure 54 (FIGS. 8 and 9), the flaps 51-53, 56 and 60 are folded inwardly about their respective scored lines. First the rear wall flap 53 and the front wall flap 51 are folded inwardly about their scored lines. The corner flap 60 of the front cover panel 57 follows the front wall flap 51 because of the side seam connection 68 therebetween. Next the bottom flap 52 is folded upwardly. In this position, the straight line of adhesive 67 covers the bottom portion of the bottom closure flap 52 and one edge of the corner flap 60. The adhesive strip 67 lies in a common plane FIGS. 9 and 10 because the mitered edges 65 and 66 prevent overlap of the bottom fiap 52 with the corner flap 60. To seal the end closure, the end cover panel 56 is sealed along the adhesive strip 67.

The carton 40 may be opened by removing the opening zipper 59 (FIG. 11) and by lifting the cover 42 which separates freely because there is no glued connection between the depending skirt 71 of the cover 42 and the wall portions 44, 51 and 52 of the receptacle 41.

FIGS. 12 through 16 illustrate a modification of the present invention. The blank in FIG. 12 includes a receptacle portion 81 defined by a front wall 82, a rear wall 83 and a bottom panel 84 connected by scored lines 82a and 83a. The end closure 85 for the carton includes a rear wall flap 86, a bottom panel flap 87 and a front wall flap 88 connected respectively by scored lines 86a, 87a, 89 and 90.

Since the carton 80 is symmetrical about line B-B, only one end of the carton need be described.

The cover portion 91 joins the receptacle at scored line 91a and includes a top panel 92 and a pair of end cover panels 93 connected by scored lines 93a. The carton includes a tamperproof feature which is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 13. The tamperproof feature includes a supplemental panel 94 which is connected at one end to a front cover panel 95 and at the other end by scored line 94a to the front wall panel 82. The front cover panel depends fromcover panel 91 by scored line 95a. A line of weakness 96 separates the upper and lower portions of the supplemental panel 94. In order to open the cover 91 with respect to the receptacle 81 the portions of the supplemental panel 94 separate along the line of weakness 96.

56 Cartons having this construction aredisclosed in United States patent to George L. Meyers No. 3,191,848.

A side seam 97 for the carton blank 80 is accomplished by adhering the front cover panel 82 to the supplemental p anel:94- below the line of weakness 96.; I

Whenthe carton of FIG; 12 is in the form of a fiat tube (folded flat at opposed scored lines 83a and95a) a straight line of adhesive 98 may beappliedto the end closure in the same manner aswith the blank illustrated in FIG. 2. The line of adhesive 9 8 extends from each cover corner flap 99 of the front cover panel 95, along the front wall flap 88, and along the bottom flap 87. a p,

Theendjclosure- 85 j (FIGS. 14 and of the modified construction isset up by closing the rear wall flap 86 and the; front wall flap 88 and then the bottom panel fiap, 871

Inythis position, FIG. 14, it will be bservedthat the straight line of=adhesive 98 is 'now in the form of an L which extends; along the side edge of the corner flap 99, the front wall flap 88 and the bottom 'fiap 87. It will be observed that the adhesive 98 (FIG: 15) lies in the same plane to provide improved adherence between the adhesive line 98 and the cover end panel 93.

i The staggered scored lines 89 and 90 and the slit 100 permit pivoting -of upper-101 and lower 102 portions of the front wall flap 88 in separate planes which are spaced slightly from each other. The fs'pacing of the planes'is controlled by the distance between the scored lines 89 and 90 which is preferably equal tothe thickness of carton stock. Since the cover corner flap 99 and the terminal portion 94b of supplemental panel 94 constitutes a double thickness of carton stock, an embossed area 103 (best shown in FIGS. 14 and 15) brings the front wall panel 88 into the same plane as the cover corner flap 99. The cover corner flap scored line 99a and the scored line 89 are aligned so their respective panels lie in the same plane. In this manner, the cover end panel 93 may be secured over the entire adhesive strip 98 in forming the end closure 85.

It will be observed that the bottom panel closure flap 87 is recessed at 87a to expose the front wall flap 88 and the cover corner flap 99 to scaling relationship with the end cover panel 93. It will be further observed that the embossment 103 has an edge 103a which follows the contour of the recessed 87a to provide improved sealing connection with the end cover panel 93.

To open the carton 80 (FIG. 16) it is necessary to separate the cover 91 along the lines of weakness 96 in the supplemental panel 94 and the cover 91 will pivot about the rear wall scored line 91a (FIG. 12).

Applicant has provided a tamperproof carton having an improved end closure. The end closure is sealed by means of an easily applied straight line of glue. When a Zipper type tamperproof feature is used, the straight line glue application permits non-critical registry of each portion of the zipper. By removing the zipper this tamperproof carton can be easily opened.

Various changes may be made to the structure embodying the principles of the invention. The foregoing embodiment is set forth in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An end closure construction (9) for a carton with a receptacle portion (2) having front (8) and rear (7) walls and a bottom panel (4), and with a cover portion (2) having top panel (21) with a depending front cover panel (23) said end closure (9) comprising an end cover panel (22) and closure flaps (10, 11, 12) connected to the rear wall (7), the bottom panel (4), the top panel (21), and the front wall (8), a cover corner flap (24) connected to the front cover panel (23) and overlying the front wall closure flap (10) said front wall closure flap (10) being connected to the front wall (8) by a pair of offset scored lines (13, 14) and having a slit (17) facilitating the pivoting of the front wall closure flap (10) in twoplanes to accommodate the 2. -A car ton comprising a receptacle (2) and .a cover (3), the receptacle having front (8) and rear (7) walls and a bottom panel. (4),. the cover (3), l iaving' a top panel (21) connected to thereceptacle (2),.the top panel (21) having a pair of depending end cover panels (22) and a depending front cover panel (23), ,a pair of cover corner flaps (24) .for securing the .end cover panels (22) to the front cover panel (23) a pair of end closures (9) for the carton, each end closure (9) comprisingsaid end cover. panel (22)..and rear (11), bottom 12) and front (10) closure flaps connected respectively,v to the rear wall (7 the bottom panel (4) and the front wall (8) of the receptacle, a pair of offset scored lines (13, 14) for connecting the front wall closure fiap.,(10).. to the front .wall (8), andva slit, (17) cooperating with the offset scored lines (13, 14) so that the front 'wall closure flap (10) may pivot to accommodate the cover corner flap (24) within the end closure. 1 I 3. A carton blank (1") 'comprising' a-v receptacle 2 and a cover. (3)',Ithe receptacle having front (8) and rear walls (7') and a bottom panel (4)", the cover having a top panel ,(21) having a pair of depending end cover panels (22)"and a depending front cover panel (23), a pair of cover corner flaps (24) for securing each end cover panel (22) to the front cover panel (23),. means (9) for closing each end of the carton blank, each of said end closing'means (9) including an end cover panel (22) and a front wall closure flap (10), said front wall closure flap (10) connected to the front wall by a pair of offset scored lines (13, 14) and a slit (17) connecting the offset 'scored lines' (13, 14) and extending into the front wall closure flap (10) so that each cover corner flap (24) may be accommodated in the end closure means (9).

4. A carton blank (40) comprising a receptacle (41) and a cover (42), the receptacle having front (44) and rear (45) walls and a bottom panel (43), the cover (42) having a top panel (55) connected to the receptacle, the top panel (55) having a pair of depending end cover panels (56) and a depending front cover panel (57 a pair of cover corner flaps (60) for securing the end cover panels (56) to the front cover panel (57), a pair of end closures (54) for the carton blank, each end closure (54) including one of the end cover panels (56) and rear (53), bottom (52) and front (51) wall closure flaps connected respectively to the rear wall (45), the bottom panel (43) and the front wall (44), adhesive means (67) for securing the end cover panels (56) to the cover corner flaps (60) and to at least one of the end closure flaps (51, 53, 54), the bottom wall closure flaps (52) being recessed to accommodate the cover corner flaps (60) within the recess and the bottom wall closure flaps (52) and the cover corner flaps (60) having adjacent mitered edges (65, 66) so that the bottom wall closure flaps (52) and the cover corner flaps (60) lie in the same plane within said end closure.

5. The carton blank as defined in claim 4 in which said adhesive [means (67) comprises a strip of adhesive extending along the bottom panel closure flaps (52) and along the cover corner flaps (60) 6. An end closure construction for a carton with a receptacle portion (81) having front (82) and rear (83) walls and a bottom panel (84) and with a cover portion (91) having top panel (92) with a depending front cover panel said end closure comprising an end cover panel (93) and closure flaps (86, 87, 88) connected to the rear wall (83), the bottom panel (84) and the front wall (82), a cover corner flap (99) connected to the front cover panel (95) and overlying the front wall closure flap (88), a supplemental panel (94) lying between the front cover panel (95) and the front wall (82), said supplemental panel (94) having terminal portions (94b) lying between the cover corner panel (99) and the front wall closure flap"(88), said front Wall closure flap (88) being connected to the front wall (82) by a pair of offset scored lines (89, 90) and having a slit (100) facilitating the pivoting front wall "closure flap (88) in two planes to accommodate the cover corner flap (99) and the terminal portion (94a) of the supplemental panel (94) within the end closure. a

H 7. A carton comprising a receptacle (81) and a cover (82), the receptacle having front (82) and rear (83) walls and a bottom panel (84), the cover (91) having a top panel (92) connected to the receptacle, the top panel (91) havinga pair of depending end cover panels (93) and a. depending front cover panel (95), a pair of cover corner flaps (99 for securing the end cover panels (93) to the front cover panel (95), a supplemental panel (94) lying between the front cover panel (95) and the front wall (82), said supplemental panel (94) having terminal portions (94b) lying between the cover corner panel (99) and the front wall closure flap (88), a pair of end closures (85) for the carton, each endclosure comprising said end cover panel (93) and rear (86), bottom (87) and front (88) closure flaps connected respectively to the rear wall (83), the bottom panel (84) and the front wall (82) of. the receptacle, a pair of offset scored lines (89, 90) for connecting the front wall closure flap (88) to the front wall (82), and a slit (100) cooperating with the offset scored lines (89, 90) so that the front wall closure flap (88) may pivot to accommodate the cover corner flaps (99) and the terminal portion (94b) of the supplemental panel (94) within the end closures (85). r 8. A carton asdefined in claim 7 which further ineludes an 'embossment (103 in" the'front closure flap (88) so that the embossmen't and the cover corner flap (99) oc'c'urinthe'same plane.

'9. A carton as defined in claim 8 wherein the bottom closure flap (87) is'recesed' to expose the front wall closure flap (88) and wherein the embossment'(103) has an edge(103a) which follows the contour of at leastaportion ofsaid embossment. -10. The end closure construction of claim 1 which further includes a strip of adhesive (32) extending along the bottom closure flap '(12) and the cover corner flap (24).

11. The carton as defined in claim 2 which further includes a strip of adhesive (32) extending along each bottom closure flap (12) and each cover corner flap (24). I 12. The carton as defined in claim 3 which further includes a strip of'adhesive (32) extending along each bottom closure flap (12) and each cover corner flap (24);

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,111,255 11/1963 Skowronski 229-5l 3,125,280 3/ 1964 Henry 2295 1 3,131,851 5/1964 'Pace 229-51 3,191,848 6/1965 Meyers 22951 3,206,103 9/1965 Bixler 22951 3,239,129 3/1966 Schilling et a1. 229-51- 3,252,651 5/1966 Holmes 229-5l 3,315,870 4/1967 Barnes 2295l X DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

